Smoke on the Water, A Father in the Sky

Comparisons between Irish and Iranian Myth

Part 1, Introduction.

The Indo-European people (abbreviated henceforth as Aryan, in accordance with the politically incorrect but historically accurate terminology) share not only a linguistic family as the politically correct narrative holds, but also specific religious traits, social structuring, and a remarkable capacity for civilizational and technological development.

While there is tremendous diversity within this broad grouping, certain parallels and recurring themes have persisted even as they expanded across the globe, reaching as far as Egypt, China, and the Americas. While those three examples have long gone extinct, there are living generations of Aryan people residing in the same countries that their Proto-Indo-European ancestors conquered ages ago, stretching from India to Iceland.

This series will focus on parallels from Ireland and Iran, two Aryan countries situated respectively in the West and East of the Eurasian continent. The vast geographical distance serves as a powerful example of just how persistent Aryan cultural traits were, and drawing connections between the two can serve as a starting point to understanding the recurring elements found in other Aryan cultures.

On a surface level, the way that Irish myth is usually presented bears little resemblance to Iran's Zoroastrianism. It is often erroneously said that Zoroastrianism is "the world's first monotheistic religion", which completely overlooks the importance of the Ahuras, or supreme god-powers who emanate from Ahura Mazda (Link). Similarly, Dagda is said to be the all-father, the progenitor of the Tuatha de Danann, the tribe of heroic gods.

The sun is said to be Ahura Mazda's eye, likening him to the Proto-Indo-European Dyeus Phter (Sky Father). Dagda is married to Morrigan, who has aspects of an Earth Goddess, also aligning him with the Dyeus Phter origin. Both also have a union with a water goddess (Ahurani and Boann, respectively), representative of not only the water itself, but also the fertility and abundance that comes from it.

Ahura Mazda himself declares that Mithra, the god of oath, justice, law, and military is "as worthy of prayer as myself" (Link), while in Ireland, Nuada shares the same functions, is alternately referred to as either the son or brother (denoting both an "emanation" and "equal" relation) of Dagda, and early on reigns as king of the Tuatha de Danann, the same position that Dagda ultimately receives.

In the Irish myth Cath Magh Tuiread (The Second Battle of Moytura), Lugh is a deity fathered by the healing god Cian and the daughter of the antagonistic drought (scorching sun) god Balor of the Fomorians, and is fostered by the sea gods. He is equipped for battle with a horse capable of traveling over earth and water with equal ease, armor that kept whoever was wearing it from wounds, and a helmet which caused his forehead to be like the sun on a dry summer day. Thus, Lugh is a "healing sun-water" god, in both his lineage and equipment. Lugh goes on to slay his grandfather Balor, ending the drought and ascending into kingship of the Tuatha de Danann. (Link)

Likewise, in the Avestan hymn to Tishtriya (divinity of the star Sirius), it is said that "He goes to its lake in the shape of a horse, in a holy shape; and down there he makes the waters boil over, and the winds flow above powerfully all around." (Link) Lugh rides a horse, whereas Tishtriya assumes the form of one, but both instances seem to be a vehicle for the sun and wind to merge with the water, creating rain. Tishtriya does battle with Apaosha, a drought demon in the form of a black horse. Tishtriya initially loses, but with the aid of Ahura Mazda regains his strength and conquers him, setting the rain free. Subsequently, Ahura Mazda dubs Tishtriya as "lord and overseer above all stars". It should be noted here that when Lugh initially confronts the Fomorians, he hesitates for "three days and three nights" (the same amount of time that Tishtriya initially battles Apaosha to no avail) before Bobd Dearg (son of Dagda) and his 2900 soldiers come to his aid.

The modern depiction of Irish Paganism is typically as one of that being chiefly concerned with lore and legends, whereas Zoroastrianism is concerned more with laws and rituals. However, this distinction may be in part due to simply the loss of knowledge about the laws and rituals of ancient Ireland, as we know that the Druids placed tremendous importance on both of these.

However, it is true that Zoroastrianism goes into much more depth in the Avestan texts on law and ritual than they do the myths and histories of the divine entities. Since ritual is such a key element in Zoroastrianism, this is a reasonable starting point for more in-depth exploration of parallels. The theme of "fire in water" is a recurring element in both traditions, and is a deeply important aspect of ritual.